| Recently I have been noticing several people who | | | | in place for best serving your needs. They need |
| are looking for virtual assistants asking for | | | | to get their contracts signed and get to know |
| information as if they were hiring an employee. | | | | what your needs and expectations are before |
| Such as resumes, required times, date they are | | | | they can start providing services for you but |
| available to start work etc. Unfortunately, because | | | | those can be in place within a matter of hours. As |
| virtual assistants provide services that an | | | | small business owners, they do not need to give |
| administrative employee would provide, there is a | | | | a two weeks notice, clear their schedule or |
| misconception that virtual assistants are | | | | anything to that effect so you begin receiving |
| employees. They are not. | | | | services almost immediately. |
| Virtual assistants are independent contractors | | | | Several people that place RFP's advertise a |
| who provide services to small businesses, much | | | | "salary" that they will pay. This is something that |
| like a mechanic and a doctor do for individuals and | | | | you would do with an employee not a virtual |
| a web designer does for small businesses. Virtual | | | | assistant. Virtual assistants have pricing structures |
| assistants do use the terms administrative | | | | in place so they can have a sustainable business. |
| assistant and secretary to describe their | | | | Some virtual assistants may be willing to barter |
| similarities but they are not employees. | | | | with you but for the most part, the pricing that |
| While virtual assistants do not provide a resume | | | | they have in place is what they charge. Would |
| to their potential clients, they do provide | | | | you go in and tell a doctor, that you need surgery |
| certifications that they have received as well as | | | | but you are only willing to pay them $1000? |
| portfolios (depending on project and | | | | Chances are, you will be laughed right out of the |
| confidentiality) and references from past clients. | | | | office. |
| They also will give you detailed information about | | | | Understanding the differences between a virtual |
| what services they provide as well as experience | | | | assistant and an employee are extremely |
| that they have with those services. When you go | | | | important to having a successful business |
| to a doctor, mechanic or web designer, you don't | | | | relationship. For a long time we have had the |
| ask for their resume. You do want to see what | | | | mentality that people who work for us are |
| certifications, awards etc they may have but you | | | | employees but times have changed and having an |
| wouldn't dream of going in and asking them for | | | | employee is not always a necessity anymore. You |
| their resume. | | | | can get several types of services provided for |
| Virtual assistants are small business owners and | | | | your business without ever having to hire an |
| while some will agree to be available to you during | | | | employee. |
| normal business hours, it is not always feasible for | | | | While it is quite reasonable to expect a virtual |
| others. Some virtual assistants work full-time and | | | | assistant to treat your business as if they were |
| do their virtual assistant business part-time in the | | | | an employee and always be professional, portray |
| evening and weekends. Some virtual assistants | | | | your business in the best possible light they can |
| may have events and errands that need to be | | | | and help your business succeed, it is not |
| done for their business during the day, etc. While | | | | reasonable to treat your virtual assistant like an |
| a virtual assistant may not be available to you | | | | employee by micromanaging them. |
| during "normal" business hours they will work in | | | | Once you start to realize that a virtual assistant |
| the evening (late if need be) and on the | | | | has a vested interest in your success, and as |
| weekends if the need is there. | | | | such, they are more of a PARTNER with you, |
| Virtual assistants do not respond to requests for | | | | and a resource you can depend on, you will find |
| a virtual assistant unless they have the time | | | | that hiring a virtual assistant can be one of the |
| available immediately to help serve your needs. | | | | best decisions you have made in running your |
| They need to put their processes and procedures | | | | business. |